You’ve heard of the FDA, but you’re not sure what it is? You wish to learn about the FDA-approved weight loss drugs? Bear with us, because we're going to show you all that you need to know about all of that and more.

Once you have the facts, you’ll be able to make some healthy changes.

So let’s fire away and see what is there to know about diet pills and supplements.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is created in order to protect the general public. They deal with examining and deciding whether it is safe to use certain products. In other words, FDA’s main job is to ensure safety and efficiency of human and veterinary drugs.

In addition, they deal with the safety of nation’s food supply, cosmetic & biological products as well as medical devices.

FDA provides accurate information about these drugs and products. They base their information on scientific facts. They help common people understand how a certain product works. In a way, they guarantee for a product.

If the FDA approves a product, it means it has undergone a number of tests carried out by experts. The tests show whether the product is safe and can be used by its intended consumers. Due to this, it is always a good idea to choose FDA-approved products, especially when it comes to weight loss drugs.

W﻿﻿﻿hat Are Weight Loss ﻿﻿Drugs﻿﻿?

Weight loss drugs are diet pills meant to help you lose weight. There are many kinds of weight loss pills. They are different due to various ingredients and the principle on which they work. Some are designed to suppress your appetite and make you eat less.

Othersp﻿eed your ﻿﻿metabolism up and help you burn fat. You take most of them 1-3 times a day, with a sip of water. There are two kinds: prescription and over-the-counter weight loss drugs.

It is important to point out that weight loss drugs are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. They can contribute immensely to your overall weight loss plan. However, they are not magical pills which will take your excess weight away.

On the contrary, they are one of a couple of useful aids in your fight for losing weight. Being physically active as well as eating clean is extremely important as well. You can expect serious results with the combination of the three.

How Effective ﻿﻿﻿Are﻿﻿﻿ ﻿Weight ﻿Loss Drugs?

We have to be aware that weight loss drugs aren’t super-drugs which simply give you a body you’ve always wanted. If that were the case, everybody would be slim and fit. The effectiveness of weight loss pills is somewhat individual for every person. Still, we can draw some general conclusions.

It is said that over a course of 1 year, patients can lose up to 10% of their original weight. Of course, a low-fat diet and an exercise plan are a requirement. This may sound a bit disappointing. However, for people who suffer from obesity, that number can go a long way.

To clarify, imagine a person who weighs 250lbs at the beginning of the process. 10% of that is 25lbs, which is a significant loss. What is more, it can be unhealthy to lose weight faster than that. Your body may suffer, so you have to be careful.

Prescription Weight Loss Drugs: (FDA ﻿﻿approval﻿﻿)

A number of weight loss drugs have received approval from the FDA. We’ve created a list of some of those FDA-approved weight loss supplements. You should combine any of these drugs with a low-calorie diet plan and an exercise program.

This way, you can expect the best possible results. Without further ado, here’s the list of some FDA-approved prescription weight loss pills that work.

Xenical

Xenicalis a prescription medication which helps you lose weight. How does it work? It is a lipase inhibitor. The main medication in it is orlistat.

Simply said, it prevents your body from absorbing one-third of the fat you’ve in taken. By blocking the fat, Xenical help you lose weight. It is also used to stop the weight you’ve previously lost from returning.

According to the FDA, it is very important to combine Xenical with a low-carb and low-fat diet. This drug may temporarily make it hard for your body to absorb certain vitamins. Hence, you might add some vitamin pills to your diet as well.

The side-effects are usually short-term as well. Most frequent ones are gassiness, problems with the stool as well as bowel movements.

Qsymia

Qsymia is an FDA-approved appetite suppressant. The two main ingredients of this weight loss pill are phentermine and topiramate.

They work together to make you crave for food less. Without seeing food as desirable as before, you’re daily intake decreases. Accordingly, you lose some weight.

You should lose 3% of your weight in the first 12 weeks, to consider the treatment successful. Otherwise, you take a higher dosage or a different drug.

Some of the side-effects which may occur are insomnia, dizziness, tingling hands and feet.

Belviq

Here’s another drug which makes you feel full after you’ve eaten a smaller portion of food. Belviq (lorcaserin) manages to do so thanks to serotonin. Serotonin is a brain chemical which regulates hunger.

Belviq causes serotonin receptors to be activated in your brain. That way, they trick your brain into thinking you’re not as hungry. Consequently, you eat less.

If the drug is suitable for you, you should lose at least 5% of your weight in the first 12 weeks. It is possible to experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, and constipation while using this drug.

Saxenda

Next on our list of FDA-approved weight loss medications is Saxenda. It differs from the previous ones because it is injectable. You inject it daily either in your stomach, upper leg, or upper arm.

It also causes your brain to believe you are full sooner. Consequently, you end up eating less food and lose weight.

During the first 16 weeks of using Saxenda, you should expect to lose at least 4% of your weight. Otherwise, consider using something else.

There are certain side-effects you may experience. The most usual ones are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure etc.

Contrave

This drug is the combination of two medicines: bupropion and naltrexone. The first one is an antidepressant but it can suppress appetite. The second one is used to treat alcohol and narcotics addiction, but it also lowers your appetite.

The combination of the two may increase your metabolism and help you burn calories faster. In addition, Contrave affects the central reward center and helps you control food cravings.

5% of your original weight should be gone after 12 weeks of using Contrave.

Again, you may expect those unwanted side-effects to bother you. You may feel sick, have trouble sleeping and experience strong headaches as well as diarrhea.

Vyvanse

Although this is another FDA-approved drug it differs from the others on our list. Here’s the thing: it is not a weight-loss drug. It is approved for treating the eating disorder of binge eating.

Binge eating is a serious disorder. The person with this disorder has episodes of eating large amounts of food and then feeling extremely guilty about it. What is more, the person causes himself to purge.

Vyvanseis primarily used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, this central nervous system stimulant is also used for treating this eating disorder.

Phentermine

Last on our list, but not the least important weight-loss drug approved by the FDA is Phentermine. This appetite suppressant is one of the most widely used pills in the US.

It affects the central nervous system and makes you feel like eating less food. It is meant to be used for only a short period of time. You may find it under different names (Adipex, Suprenza).

Be careful to use it according to the prescription. Side-effects such as include insomnia, constipation, and dry mouth may occur during the treatment.

Who Are Candidates for Weight Loss Drugs?

A great number of people struggle with weight loss. However, not all of them have the same kinds of problems. For people who want to lose a few pounds in order to look better, it is best to use some over-the -counter weight loss pills. They are used for less severe problems with weight.

On the other hand, prescription weight loss pills should be used by a different category of people. Doctors won’t prescribe any of the FDA-approved prescription drugs to those who just wish to lose a few pounds. On the contrary, the patient has to meet certain criteria.

Firstly, most of these drugs are meant for obese patients. Patients should have a BMIhigher than 30. In addition, patients might get a prescription if they have a BMI higher than 27 along with other medical issues. The most serious ones are type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Also worth mentioning is that all of these prescription drugs are meant to be used along with a healthy diet and an exercise program. Your doctor will take into consideration your disease history as well as your current health state.

We’re not through yet. Pregnant women and those who are trying to conceive mustn’t use any of the prescription drugs. They might hurt the fetus and harm the patient.

Does any of this sound like you? If it does, you can give it a go. Visit your doctor and ask for a prescription weight loss drug.

Best Weight Loss Supplements That Work

I know there are those of you who just wish to get fit faster and look better for the summer. You don’t have a serious obesity problem, but you still can’t seem to get rid of those extra few pounds?

Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about you. There are some over-the-counter supplements, with natural ingredients which may suit you.

Most of the main ingredients are natural appetite suppressants and manage to make you crave for food less. So let’s take a closer look into some of the most prominent ones.

Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia Cambogia pills are natural supplements which help you lose weight. The main ingredient is the tropical fruit Garcinia Cambogia. It is the key ingredient and a natural appetite suppressant.

But, what makes it so special? Here’s the thing: it is rich in hydroxycitric acid (HCA).

Still confused? Let’s dig deeper.

HCA boosts your metabolism by blocking an enzyme which turns extra carbs into fat in your body. Instead, it helps your body turn that fat into energy as well. Isn’t that great?

But wait, there’s more. Garcinia supplements also tend to make you feel more energized. It is also due to HCA, which releases serotonin. This brain-chemical will influence the way you feel. Moreover, it helps you control food cravings.

Green Coffee Beans

Drinking coffee is the essential part of the day for so many people. Yet, most of them aren’t aware of the beneficial effect coffee can have on your body.

Here’s your answer: black coffee beans are roasted. In that process, they lose some of the CGA. Therefore, green coffee beans contain more CGA.

Since CGA is a powerful antioxidant, it controls the release of glucose in your body once you’ve eaten. Glucose is your blood sugar. To put it simply, your metabolism burns calories faster with lower levels of sugar.

In addition, CGA and caffeine certainly make a good combination. Caffeine also increases your metabolic rate. It reduces food cravings and is an excellent natural appetite suppressant.

Raspberry Ketones

Apart from being delicious, raspberry is quite healthy as well. Raspberry ketone﻿s enhance your metabolism and reduce your fat storage. They do so by increasing lipolysis (breakdown of fat).

They cause the release of adiponectin. It’s a protein hormone regulating metabolic processes. Therefore, this lovely fruit is beneficial and should be added to your regular meal plans.

Due to its magnificent ingredients, raspberry is often one of the main ingredients in weight-loss natural supplements.

But why not eat the actual fruit instead of taking a pill?

Here’s the thing: you would have to eat about 90 pounds of raspberries to substitute the dose of one pill. This is why many people decided to use raspberry ketone weight loss pills.

Final Thoughts

By now you’ll have understood what FDA-approved weight loss drugs are. Let’s rewind and see what we’ve learned. Before taking any weight-loss drug or supplement, determine what your problem is.

Set a goal and decide how to make it happen. Consult a doctor to help you decide what the best choice for you is. Always keep in mind: a healthy diet and exercising regularly go a long way.

I’d love to know your thoughts about this whole story. Have you used any of the FDA-approved weight loss drugs? What do you think are the best FDA-approved diet pills?

And what’s your experience with those natural supplements? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section. Your opinion means a lot.

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